As the spooky season fast approaches, Tourism Ireland has announced the launch of the seven ‘Halloween Hubs’, to celebrate the island of Ireland’s Halloween heritage – Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford and Westmeath, and Meath and Louth.
*All details correct at time of publish (24 October 2025)
Following a surge in tourism numbers (international arrivals to the Republic of Ireland rose by 27% during Halloween 2024), Tourism Ireland is extending the season and building on its origin story as the Home of Halloween, inviting visitors to explore the traditional Halloween traditions across the island of Ireland.
Rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween originated in Ireland more than 2,000 years ago: and this year, the country is expanding its celebration like never before.
For the first time, seven new regional Halloween Hubs will build on the success of the flagship Púca Festival in County Meath, offering visitors a chance to explore Ireland’s eerie folklore and fiery rituals in immersive, locally inspired ways.
Each hub will feature its own schedule of events – from torchlit processions and mythological re-enactments to interactive ghost tours, harvest feasts, and immersive performances.
The new Halloween Hubs for 2025 span the island of Ireland and include locations in Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford and Westmeath, and Meath and Louth.
Ireland’s Spooky Season Surge as Visitor Numbers Rise
Halloween in Ireland is no longer a niche interest – it’s fast becoming a bucket-list travel experience, with over 340 events planned across the island to celebrate the occasion.
According to new data, international arrivals to the Republic of Ireland during the Halloween season in 2024 surged by 27% compared to the previous year, with growing demand from the US, Germany, France and Great Britain.
Thanks to the festival’s new Halloween Hubs, visitor numbers for this year’s festivities are expected to almost triple.
Meanwhile, Derry Halloween continues to strengthen its position as Europe’s largest Halloween festival: visitor numbers rose from 115,000 in 2023 to 120,000 in 2024, reflecting the festival’s growing international appeal.
Taking place from Tuesday 28th to Friday 31st October in Northern Ireland, this year’s festival offers four days of spine-tingling celebrations across 50+ venues in Northern Ireland’s historic second city.
This year’s festival will feature over 100 unmissable events as it builds towards its milestone 40th anniversary in 2026.
This growth reflects a global appetite for culturally rich, immersive travel, and Halloween in Ireland offers just that – with ancient storytelling, breathtaking autumn scenery, and legendary Irish hospitality.
Samhain: Where Halloween Truly Begins
Halloween began as Samhain, a sacred Celtic festival marking the transition from light to dark. It was believed that on October 31st, the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest – a time when spirits crossed into our world, and bonfires were lit to ward them off.
These ancient beliefs still shape Ireland’s Halloween traditions today, and with the new Halloween Hubs, visitors can explore the roots of the festival in the very landscapes where it all began.
For more information, visit Ireland is the Home of Halloween | Ireland.com
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